Koehler Holding SE & Co. KG
Climate Impact & Sustainability Data (2023)
Reporting Period: 2023
Environmental Metrics
Total Carbon Emissions:250,000 tCO2e/year (Scope 1 & 2)
Scope 1 Emissions:249,610 tCO2e/year
Scope 2 Emissions:15,550 tCO2e/year
Scope 3 Emissions:Not disclosed
Renewable Energy Share:73% (electricity), 60% (heat)
Total Energy Consumption:Not disclosed
Water Consumption:Not disclosed
Waste Generated:135,731 tons/year
Carbon Intensity:Not disclosed
ESG Focus Areas
- Climate Change
- Resource Efficiency
- Renewable Energy
- Sustainable Supply Chain
- Employee Well-being
- Innovation
Environmental Achievements
- Reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 10% compared to the previous year.
- 73% of electricity and 60% of heat needs for paper production met with renewable energy sources.
- Replaced lignite with wood dust at Greiz mill, reducing annual CO2 emissions by 24,000 metric tons.
- Oberkirch power plant conversion to biomass fuel underway, expected to reduce direct emissions by 150,000 metric tons per year.
Social Achievements
- Launched a “Health Management” program to promote employee well-being.
- Implemented flexitime arrangements to improve work-life balance.
- Organized holiday camps for employees' children.
- Supported community initiatives like “Trash vs. Tree” campaign.
Governance Achievements
- Established anti-corruption training for all employees.
- Maintained ISO 27001 certification for IT security since 2008.
- Improved internal audit processes to enhance communication and collaboration.
Climate Goals & Targets
Long-term Goals:
- Achieve net-zero emissions by 2045.
Medium-term Goals:
- Produce more renewable energy than needed for paper production by 2030.
- Reduce indirect emissions (Scope 3) by 20% by 2030 (compared to 2022).
Short-term Goals:
- Reduce direct emissions (Scope 1) by 80% by 2030 (compared to 2022).
Environmental Challenges
- Contradictory forestry regulations regarding biomass sourcing.
- Insufficient wastepaper availability in Germany to meet secondary fiber demand.
- Vague packaging legislation hindering the switch from plastic to paper packaging.
- Climate change impacts on Rhine water levels affecting shipping logistics.
Mitigation Strategies
- Exploring alternative biomass sources like Douglas fir.
- Sourcing pulp from Latin America where reforestation is occurring.
- Developing high-quality recycled paper from wastepaper (Greiz mill).
- Increasing rail transport for pulp to reduce reliance on Rhine shipping.
Supply Chain Management
Supplier Audits: 100% of relevant suppliers underwent CSR assessment in 2023.
Responsible Procurement
- Supplier Code of Conduct
- Sustainable Procurement Charter
- FSC® and PEFC chain of custody certification
Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities
Physical Risks
- Extreme weather events, high and low water levels in Rhine.
Transition Risks
- Regulatory changes, market shifts towards renewable energy.
Opportunities
- Development of energy-efficient products and processes.
- Expansion of renewable energy generation.
Reporting Standards
Frameworks Used: GRI (Core option)
Certifications: ISO 27001 (IT), ISO 14001 (paper and board mills), FSC®, PEFC
Third-party Assurance: EcoVadis (Gold)
UN Sustainable Development Goals
- SDG 3
- SDG 4
- SDG 5
- SDG 6
- SDG 7
- SDG 8
- SDG 9
- SDG 12
- SDG 14
- SDG 15
Initiatives contributing to these goals are detailed in the report.
Sustainable Products & Innovation
- NexFlex® flexible packaging paper
- Blue4est® thermal paper
Awards & Recognition
- BEST PLACE TO LEARN®